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Mark Gordon: There are instances where the title of the story is located on the Title page or rather the interior front cover. Should the title be placed in brackets? ... Mike Nielsen says No, Ramon says Yes  
Mark Gordon: There are instances where the title of the story is located on the Title page or rather the interior front cover. Should the title be placed in brackets? ... Mike Nielsen says No, Ramon says Yes  
Jim Vandore: Do we include quotation marks around titles? Mike Nielsen says "I tend to put them in if they are part of a quote and leave them out if they don't look to be part of a quote."


Jim Vandore: Is there a rule about "in" or "featuring" or the like? I'm thinking of cases in the Silver Age and earlier where the feature logo and the story title are linked, such as Batman in "The Case of the Silver Sword."  
Jim Vandore: Is there a rule about "in" or "featuring" or the like? I'm thinking of cases in the Silver Age and earlier where the feature logo and the story title are linked, such as Batman in "The Case of the Silver Sword."  

Revision as of 18:07, 13 June 2011

The name of the story, usually from the first page.

Required for Story, Text Story and Text Article type, optional for all others

Further Details:

  • If the story is part of a longer story then that information is included after the chapter title. It is included in square brackets if it is not actually listed on the page but can be inferred from the previous or next issue or an outside source (which should be noted in the Notes field). It is included as it is written in the book if it is actually on the page.
  • Quotation marks around the entirety of a sequence title are discarded UNLESS the indexer can make a good-faith determination that the title is intended to convey the actual quotation of something (a literary work, famous phrase, line of dialogue, etc.).
  • Untitled stories can be handled in different ways depending on the situation. The preferred way is to use the first line of script ("First line of script...") with the Unofficial Title checkbox being checked. They can also be listed as "untitled" or a title can be made up by the indexer (Made Up Title), also with the Unofficial Title checkbox being checked..
  • Some Types (such as Cover and Pinup) normally don't have titles. This field can be left blank for those or the most prominent piece of text can be used, with the Unofficial Title checkbox being checked..
  • The Title is helpful in identifying reprints or coverless comics, so using the first line of dialogue is preferred to making up a title.

Examples:

* Clash of the Titans - Title is clearly written 
* untitled (and check the Unofficial Title box) - No title given 
* When Titans Clash (and check the Unofficial Title box) - Title made up by indexer based on content 
* "It was a dark and stormy night..." (and check the Unofficial Title box) - First line of story used as title 
* Hercules Takes Revenge [When Titans Clash Part 47] - Story arc and title inferred
* When Titans Doth Clash Chapter 4 - As written in the book

(end of definition)


Some discussion that should be considered as suggestions, but not officially part of the definition: Allen Ross: If a story is originally untitled, but given a title when reprinted (presumably in the original printing, use brackets around the title with the new name, but also add a Note giving the source of the title). This has happened with several of the DC Archives.

If a story has a title but is given a different title when reprinted (presumably in the original book use the title that's printed in the book, but also add a Note (or reprint note in brackets) that mentions the retitled reprint; and in the reprint use the title that's printed in that book, but also add a Note (or reprint note in brackets) that mentions the original title)

Jim Vandore: A few months ago I mentioned that I missed the rule on how to do titles where the story is part of a greater whole, i.e.

Story Title [Story Arc Part X]

and said that I been following library format

Story Arc, Part X: Story title

A couple of editors said that seemed a reasonable alternative, and I know at least one other editor also does it in library format.

Personally, I prefer library format and think it reads clearer. Maybe it could be discussed and officially deemed acceptable?

(And I could have sworn the GCD format had part x, not Part X. I also don't like [untitled] or [none] in the story field because potentially a search for all stories without a title could be messed up. Or all story titles with the word none, etc.)

Mark Gordon: There are instances where the title of the story is located on the Title page or rather the interior front cover. Should the title be placed in brackets? ... Mike Nielsen says No, Ramon says Yes

Jim Vandore: Is there a rule about "in" or "featuring" or the like? I'm thinking of cases in the Silver Age and earlier where the feature logo and the story title are linked, such as Batman in "The Case of the Silver Sword."

I would just put

The Case of the Silver Sword

but I have seen people put (the equivalent of)

"The Case of the Silver Sword"

or

In "The Case of the Silver Sword"... Ray says no "in"


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